Published: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 7:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 11, 2013 at 7:58 p.m.

For years, Nancy Zyburt said she has wanted to do volunteer work and travel, but raising three daughters meant she didn't have the money or the time to do much of either.

Now that all of her girls are grown and out of college, she's planned an adventure that incorporates both.

The 56-year-old Michigan resident was in Thibodaux this week, donating to the Good Samaritan Food Bank, to fulfill her plan of visiting all U.S. states and territories in a little over a year, donating to charities once a day everywhere she goes.

“It's been an amazing adventure,” Zyburt said.

Zyburt said she went to the Thibodaux food bank on a whim after driving from Alabama to Mandeville, New Orleans and Lafayette. She asked what they needed, returning the same day with 30 bottles of juice.

The manager of the food bank, Melodia Benoit, said she was happy to be “one of the ones lucky enough to get picked.”

“We're not a rich food bank,” Benoit said. “We depend on donations.”

When potential donors call ahead to find out what the food bank needs, that's always helpful, but at the same time “we'll take anything,” said Benoit, who also runs a food bank in Raceland.

Zyburt said she's happy to help in a way that she's familiar with.

“I'm a really good shopper. I can stretch a dollar a long way,” she said. She would sometimes go into grocery stores and see the bags available to purchase for food banks, and think “it'd be so much fun just to shop and fill up the cart (for someone in need), but I couldn't because I was raising kids. ... But now I can.”

Zyburt calls her trip Expedition 56 and blogs about it at www.expedition56.com.

Zyburt, who was born in 1956, donates $56 a day in the 56 U.S. states and territories and plans to do so for 56 weeks. She began her trip four months ago, on her 56th birthday, she said.

Before she left, she sold her long-time business, a classical ballet studio, so she has some extra money for a trip like this.

“Of course, I'll be broke and need a job when I get back,” she said, laughing.

She said she donates to food banks, homeless shelters, veterans causes, and animal shelters, among others.

The only one accompanying her on her trip is her dog, Tula — her “co-pilot,” Zyburt said.

“I've been a road-tripper all my life, so to drive all over the country is kind of cool. ... It's my own teeny little way of giving back,” Zyburt said.

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.

<p>For years, Nancy Zyburt said she has wanted to do volunteer work and travel, but raising three daughters meant she didn't have the money or the time to do much of either.</p><p>Now that all of her girls are grown and out of college, she's planned an adventure that incorporates both.</p><p>The 56-year-old Michigan resident was in Thibodaux this week, donating to the Good Samaritan Food Bank, to fulfill her plan of visiting all U.S. states and territories in a little over a year, donating to charities once a day everywhere she goes.</p><p>“It's been an amazing adventure,” Zyburt said.</p><p>Zyburt said she went to the Thibodaux food bank on a whim after driving from Alabama to Mandeville, New Orleans and Lafayette. She asked what they needed, returning the same day with 30 bottles of juice.</p><p>The manager of the food bank, Melodia Benoit, said she was happy to be “one of the ones lucky enough to get picked.”</p><p>“We're not a rich food bank,” Benoit said. “We depend on donations.”</p><p>When potential donors call ahead to find out what the food bank needs, that's always helpful, but at the same time “we'll take anything,” said Benoit, who also runs a food bank in Raceland.</p><p>Zyburt said she's happy to help in a way that she's familiar with.</p><p>“I'm a really good shopper. I can stretch a dollar a long way,” she said. She would sometimes go into grocery stores and see the bags available to purchase for food banks, and think “it'd be so much fun just to shop and fill up the cart (for someone in need), but I couldn't because I was raising kids. ... But now I can.”</p><p>Zyburt calls her trip Expedition 56 and blogs about it at www.expedition56.com.</p><p>Zyburt, who was born in 1956, donates $56 a day in the 56 U.S. states and territories and plans to do so for 56 weeks. She began her trip four months ago, on her 56th birthday, she said.</p><p>Before she left, she sold her long-time business, a classical ballet studio, so she has some extra money for a trip like this.</p><p>“Of course, I'll be broke and need a job when I get back,” she said, laughing.</p><p>She said she donates to food banks, homeless shelters, veterans causes, and animal shelters, among others.</p><p>The only one accompanying her on her trip is her dog, Tula — her “co-pilot,” Zyburt said.</p><p>“I've been a road-tripper all my life, so to drive all over the country is kind of cool. ... It's my own teeny little way of giving back,” Zyburt said.</p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>